‘Karate Kid’ sequel ‘Cobra Kai’ reignites rivalry

The Karate Kid stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka are going toe-to-toe — again — in the forthcoming Cobra Kai TV series.

In a teaser to the YouTube Red original series posted online, the stars of the 1984 martial arts franchise reignite their storied rivalry. Johnny Lawrence, the former high school bully played by Zabka, has gone the way of Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi by opening his own dojo. It’s called Cobra Kai and its students learn the way of the fist — but Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso isn’t having it with Johnny’s “no mercy” tactics.

“Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso aren’t the same people they were in high school — but their rivalry hasn’t changed one bit. The Karate Kid saga continues,” reads the synopsis.

The Karate Kid, and Morita’s famed “wax on, wax off” mantra, yielded a popular four-film franchise throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. Hilary Swank starred in the 1994 instalment and a 2010 reboot featured Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith.

Cobra Kai will launch later this year.